Another belting day at the Cheltenham Festival is in the offing on Wednesday and we provide a selection for every race on day two of the biggest meeting in jump racing.
Cheltenham Festival Day 2 tips
1.20 Cheltenham – Turners Novices’ Hurdle
THE YELLOW CLAY 11/2 has achieved a comparable level of form to Turners market protagonists Final Demand and The New Lion and looks the way to go at the Cheltenham betting prices for Gordon Elliott. The Yellow Clay won his Grade 1 at Naas by a wide margin and has an unbeaten record over hurdles. Fresh for the task at hand, he can serve it up to the big two.
2.00 Cheltenham – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
Ballyburn was a wildly impressive winner of the Turners last term, but it hasn’t been plain sailing for him over fences and this free-goer is yet to prove himself as a three-miler. Preference is for BETTER DAYS AHEAD 7/1 , who should relish a thorough test at the trip. He won the Martin Pipe in excellent fashion last term and gives the impression there is lots more to come.
2.40 Cheltenham – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
Evan Williams saddles an interesting contender in the Coral Cup in MINELLA MISSILE 40/1 . This horse was a Grade 2 novice hurdle winner over course and distance two seasons ago, but was off the track for 14 months after that. Still lightly raced, Minella Missile’s mark has been on the slide and it is noteworthy that he retained a Stayers’ Hurdle entry earlier this year.
3.20 Cheltenham – Cross Country Chase
VANILLIER 13/2 appears to have plenty in his favour in the Glenfarclas. He won the Albert Bartlett at this track in 2021 and looked a reformed character in first-time blinkers at Punchestown when last seen. With that headgear back in place, Vanillier is an interesting alternative to stablemate Stumptown.
4.00 Cheltenham – Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Champion Chase revolves around JONBON 5/6 , who has been better than ever this season. Sceptics will point towards his 2-5 course record at Cheltenham, but there are reasonable explanations for all of those defeats and too much is made of it. Crucially, he has never lost when Nico de Boinville has taken the ride and he has an edge over this opposition.
4.40 Cheltenham – Grand Annual
Lucinda Russell’s chasers are always respected at this meeting and the novice PRIMOZ 16/1 can go well in a weak-looking Grand Annual. Primoz has an in-and-out profile, but is a talented two-miler when on-song and it is interesting that Derek Fox has shunned interesting stablemate Traprain Law in order to take the ride.
5.20 Cheltenham – Champion Bumper
Willie Mullins has a typically strong hand in the Champion Bumper, but Copacabana and Gameofinches may be overbet due to their riders (Patrick Mullins and Paul Townend). It may be worth turning to the mare BAMBINO FEVER 9/2 under the capable Jody Townend. Bambino Fever was a stylish Grade 2 bumper winner at the Dublin Racing Festival and evidently has a big engine.
